Buckle chip with secure lock

ABSTRACT

A buckle clip with secure lock preventing accidental releasing is provided. The buckle clip includes a first bracket, a second bracket, a fastening member that fastens the first bracket to the second bracket, a lever that is pivotally provided on the first bracket, and a lock that is fixed on the first bracket. The lever is pivoted to move the fastening member. The lock includes a lock spring member that engages with the lever. The lever to has a first end, a second end and a lever hole. The lever is pivotally supported at the first end, and the lever hole is provided near the second end. The lock spring member engages with the lever hole when the buckle clip is in the fastened state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a buckle clip facility. More particularly, the invention relates to a buckle clip with secure lock that improves rigidity and reliability of the buckle clip.

[0002] Buckle clips are widely used for fastening two loose parts together. Luggage and garments are examples of products that use buckle clips. Buckle clips provide handy means to fasten or unfasten two parts without needing a tool for the fastening or unfastening operations. However, conventional buckle clips lack in functions preventing accidental and unintentional unbuckling. A buckle clip has a secure lock that prevents accidental opening of the parts fastened by the buckle clip, while preserving the handy features of the conventional buckle clips, is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantage of the prior art.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a buckle clip that is safe from accidental unbuckling.

[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle clip with secure lock by a simple and reliable construction.

[0006] To achieve the above-described objects, a buckle clip for connecting two separate parts including a first bracket, a second bracket, a fastening member that fastens the first bracket to the second bracket, a lever that is pivotally provided on the first bracket, and a lock that is fixed on the first bracket, is provided. The lever is pivoted to move the fastening member so that the fastening member fastens the first bracket to the second bracket in fastened state of the buckle clip, and releases the first bracket from the second bracket in released state of the buckle clip. The lock secures the lever when the buckle clip is in the fastened state.

[0007] The lock includes a lock spring member that engages with the lever.

[0008] The lever has a first end, a second end and a lever hole. The lever is pivotally supported at the first end, and the lever hole is provided near the second end. The lock spring member engages with the lever hole when the buckle clip is in the fastened state.

[0009] The lock spring member has a flat portion that is fixed to the first bracket, and a body portion that extends from the flat portion upward. The body portion has an engaging end that engages with the lever hole.

[0010] The engaging end of the lock spring member has a round projection. When the lever is pivoted to the fastened state, the lever hole slides on the round projection overcoming the force exerted by the body portion of the lock spring member. In order to pivot the lever from the fastened state to the released state, a force greater than a predetermined threshold is needed to make the lever hole slide on the round projection, so that the buckle clip is secured in the fastened state.

[0011] The lever hole is rectangular, and the lock spring member is made by bending a flat spring plate. The round projection is made by curling the spring plate at the engaging end of the lock spring member.

[0012] The first bracket has a flat bracket body, and a hinge on which the lever is pivotally supported. The hinge is provided on the bracket body. The lever is substantially parallel with the bracket body in the fastened state, and makes a predetermined angle with the bracket body in the released state.

[0013] The first bracket further includes a cam spring member. The cam spring member is attached to the bracket body of the first bracket in cantilever fashion. The first end of the lever acts as a cam against the cam spring member so that the lever is snapped into either a state in which the lever is substantially parallel with the bracket body, or a state in which the lever makes the predetermined angle with the bracket body.

[0014] The cam spring member and the lock spring member may be integrated into a single member.

[0015] The fastening member is a ring, and the second bracket has a base and a boss protruding from the base. The ring is pivotally supported by the lever, and the ring engages with the boss in the fastened state.

[0016] The first bracket has a plurality of holes on the bracket body, and the second bracket has a plurality of holes on the base.

[0017] The advantages of the present invention are: (1) a buckle clip with secure lock that prevents accidental unbuckling is provided; and (2) the buckle clip has a simple and reliable structure and is easy to manufacture.

[0018] Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a buckle clip with secure lock according to the present invention in fastened state;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the buckle cilp in fastened state;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the buckle cilp;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the buck clip in released state;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the buckle cilp in released state;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

[0027]FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but shows a lever of the buckle clip is in an intermediate state between the fastened state and the released state; and

[0028]FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but shows the lever is sliding on a secure lock before it is fully fastened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029]FIGS. 1-4 show a buckle clip 10 for connecting two separate parts according to the present invention in fastened state. The buckle clip 10 includes a first bracket 12, a second bracket 14, a fastening member that fastens the first bracket 12 to the second bracket 14, a lever 18 that is pivotally provided on the first bracket 12, and a lock 20 that is fixed on the first bracket 12. The fastening member is a ring 16 pivotally supported by the lever 18.

[0030] The lever 18 is pivoted to move the ring 16 so that the ring 16 fastens the first bracket 12 to the second bracket 14 in fastened state of the buckle clip 10, and releases the first bracket 12 from the second bracket 14 in released state of the buckle clip 10. The lock 20 secures the lever 18 when the buckle clip 10 is in the fastened state. The released state of the buckle clip 10 is shown in FIGS. 5-7.

[0031] The second bracket 14 has a base 26 and a boss 28 protruding from the base 26. The ring 16 engages with the boss 28 in the fastened state.

[0032] The first bracket 12 has a flat bracket body 22, and a hinge 23 on which the lever 18 is pivotally supported. The hinge 23 is provided on the bracket body 22. The lever 18 is substantially parallel with the bracket body 22 in the fastened state as shown in FIG. 2, and makes a predetermined angle with the bracket body 22 in the released state as shown in FIG. 6.

[0033] The first bracket 12 has a plurality of holes 30 on the bracket body 22 for fixing the first bracket 12 to one part that is to be joined by the buckle clip 10. The second bracket 14 has a plurality of holes 32 on the base 26 for fixing the second bracket 14 to the other part that is to be joined by the buckle clip 10.

[0034]FIG. 8 shows that the lever 18 has a first end 34, a second end 36, and a lever hole 38. The lever 18 is pivotally supported at the first end 34. The lever hole 38 is provided near the second end 36. The second end 36 acts as a handle by a user of the buckle clip 10, when the user buckles or unbuckles the buckle clip 10.

[0035] The first bracket further includes a cam spring member 24. The cam spring member 24 is attached to the bracket body 22 in cantilever fashion, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the first end 34 of the lever 18 acts as a cam against the cam spring member 24 so that the lever 18 is snapped into either a state in which the lever 18 is substantially parallel with the bracket body 22 as shown in FIG. 4, or a state in which the lever 18 makes the predetermined angle with the bracket body 22 as shown in FIG. 7.

[0036] The lock 20 includes a lock spring member 40 that engages with the lever 18. The cam spring member 24 and the lock spring member 40 are integrated into a single member as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. That is, they are made as a single part.

[0037] The lock spring member 40 engages with the lever hole 38 when the buckle clip 10 is in the fastened state.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 7, the lock spring member 40 has a flat portion 42 that is fixed to the first bracket 12, and a body portion 44 that extends from the flat portion 42 upward. The body portion 44 has an engaging end 46 that engages with the lever hole 38.

[0039] The engaging end 46 has a round projection 48. As is shown well in FIG. 9, when the lever 18 is pivoted to the fastened state, the lever hole 38 slides on the round projection 48 overcoming the force exerted by the body portion 44 of the lock spring member 40. In order to pivot the lever 18 to the released state, a force greater than a predetermined threshold is needed to make the lever hole 38 slide on the round projection 48. Therefore, the buckle clip 10 is secured in the fastened state.

[0040] The shape of the lever hole 38 is rectangular, and the lock spring member 40 is made by bending a flat spring plate. The round projection 48 is made by curling the spring plate at the engaging end 46 of the lock spring member 40.

[0041] With the above construction, a buckle clip that prevents accidental unbuckling is provided. The buckle clip has a simple and reliable structure to provide the feature. Cases or bags using the buckle clip of the present invention are prevented from accidental opening and dropping things inside.

[0042] Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, other versions are possible by converting the aforementioned construction. Therefore, the scope of the invention shall not be limited by the specification specified above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A buckle clip for connecting two separate parts comprising: a) a first bracket; b) a second bracket; c) a fastening member that fastens the first bracket to the second bracket; d) a lever that is pivotally provided on the first bracket; and e) a lock that is fixed on the first bracket; wherein the lever is pivoted to move the fastening member so that the fastening member fastens the first bracket to the second bracket in fastened state of the buckle clip, and releases the first bracket from the second bracket in released state of the buckle clip, and wherein the lock secures the lever when the buckle clip is in the fastened state.
 2. The buckle clip of claim 1, wherein the lock includes a lock spring member that engages with the lever.
 3. The buckle clip of claim 2, wherein the lever has a first end, a second end and a lever hole, wherein the lever is pivotally supported at the first end, wherein the lever hole is provided near the second end, and wherein the lock spring member engages with the lever hole when the buckle clip is in the fastened state.
 4. The buckle clip of claim 3, wherein the lock spring member has a flat portion that is fixed to the first bracket, and a body portion that extends from the flat portion upward, wherein the body portion has an engaging end that engages with the lever hole.
 5. The buckle clip of claim 4, wherein the engaging end has a round projection, wherein when the lever is pivoted to the fastened state, the lever hole slides on the round projection overcoming the force exerted by the body portion of the lock spring member, and wherein in order to pivot the lever from the fastened state to the released state, a force greater than a predetermined threshold is needed to make the lever hole slide on the round projection, whereby the buckle clip is secured in the fastened state.
 6. The buckle clip of claim 5, wherein the lever hole is rectangular, and the lock spring member is made by bending a flat spring plate, wherein the round projection is made by curling the spring plate at the engaging end of the lock spring member.
 7. The buckle clip of claim 4, wherein the first bracket has a flat bracket body, and a hinge on which the lever is pivotally supported, wherein the hinge is provided on the bracket body, and wherein the lever is substantially parallel with the bracket body in the fastened state, and makes a predetermined angle with the bracket body in the released state.
 8. The buckle clip of claim 7, wherein the engaging end has a round projection, wherein when the lever is pivoted to the fastened state, the lever hole slides on the round projection overcoming the force exerted by the body portion of the lock spring member, and wherein in order to pivot the lever from the fastened state to the released state, a force greater than a predetermined threshold is needed to make the lever hole slide on the round projection, whereby the buckle clip is secured in the fastened state.
 9. The buckle clip of claim 8, wherein the lever hole is rectangular, and the lock spring member is made by bending a flat spring plate, wherein the round projection is made by curling the spring plate at the engaging end of the lock spring member.
 10. The buckle clip of claim 7, the first bracket further comprises a cam spring member, wherein the cam spring member is attached to the bracket body of the first bracket in cantilever fashion, wherein the first end of the lever acts as a cam against the cam spring member so that the lever is snapped into either a state in which the lever is substantially parallel with the bracket body, or a state in which the lever makes the predetermined angle with the bracket body.
 11. The buckle clip of claim 10, wherein the engaging end has a round projection, wherein when the lever is pivoted to the fastened state, the lever hole slides on the round projection overcoming the force exerted by the body portion of the lock spring member, and wherein in order to pivot the lever from the fastened state to the released state, a force greater than a predetermined threshold is needed to make the lever hole slide on the round projection, whereby the buckle clip is secured in the fastened state.
 12. The buckle clip of claim 11, wherein the lever hole is rectangular, and the lock spring member is made by bending a flat spring plate, wherein the round projection is made by curling the spring plate at the engaging end of the lock spring member.
 13. The buckle clip of claim 10, wherein the cam spring member and the lock spring member are integrated into a single member.
 14. The buckle clip of claim 13, wherein the engaging end has a round projection, wherein when the lever is pivoted to the fastened state, the lever hole slides on the round projection overcoming the force exerted by the body portion of the lock spring member, and wherein in order to pivot the lever from the fastened state to the released state, a force greater than a predetermined threshold is needed to make the lever hole slide on the round projection, whereby the buckle clip is secured in the fastened state.
 15. The buckle clip of claim 14, wherein the lever hole is rectangular, and the lock spring member is made by bending a flat spring plate, wherein the round projection is made by curling the spring plate at the engaging end of the lock spring member.
 16. The buckle clip of claim 13, wherein the fastening member is a ring, wherein the second bracket has a base and a boss protruding from the base, wherein the ring is pivotally supported by the lever, wherein the ring engages with the boss in the fastened state.
 17. The buckle clip of claim 16, wherein the engaging end has a round projection, wherein when the lever is pivoted to the fastened state, the lever hole slides on the round projection overcoming the force exerted by the body portion of the lock spring member, and wherein in order to pivot the lever from the fastened state to the released state, a force greater than a predetermined threshold is needed to make the lever hole slide on the round projection, whereby the buckle clip is secured in the fastened state.
 18. The buckle clip of claim 17, wherein the lever hole is rectangular, and the lock spring member is made by bending a flat spring plate, wherein the round projection is made by curling the spring plate at the engaging end of the lock spring member.
 19. The buckle clip of claim 18, wherein the first bracket has a plurality of holes on the bracket body, and the second bracket has a plurality of holes on the base. 